Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Fever is Not an Enemy by Kate Raines

Fever is Not an Enemy

Treating
fever with Tylenol (acetaminophen) is counterproductive for many
reasons, not least of which is the drug’s toxic effects on the liver.

Fever
is one of the body’s oldest and most reliable tools for fighting
disease or infection, creating an inhospitable environment for pathogens
and activating the immune system.

Reducing
a fever with acetaminophen has a number of negative effects, including
reduction of glutathione levels important to numerous cellular
functions.

One of the most common recommendations for fever is to alleviate it
by giving Tylenol (acetaminophen). Although may sometimes be unpleasant
to experience fever or to care for a feverish child, it is important to
understand that fever itself is a symptom of the body’s immune system
fighting an infection or illness.
Defined as “a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) and higher when taken
rectally,” fever generally reflects a normal immune system response and
indicates that the body is mounting an inflammatory assault against the
“invaders.”1
Several benefits of fever have been identified: A higher than normal
body temperature provides a less hospitable environment for many
temperature-sensitive pathogenic viruses and bacteria. The elevated
temperature also stimulates both the innate and the adaptive branches of
the immune system, improving the recruitment and activity of many types
of immune system cells and serving as a type of “systemic alert system”
in the presence of infection or disease.2
Mechanically reducing fever via medication has been associated with a
five percent increase in incidence of death from influenza, and also
has been found to have a negative effect on outcome for hospitalized
patients in intensive care.3

Acetaminophen is Not Without Risk

While there are widespread reminders that aspirin must not be given
to children because of its rare association with Reye syndrome, the
dangers of acetaminophen are downplayed, and it remains the treatment
most often recommended for treatment of fever in children. Yet, the
truth is that this common over-the-counter medication has a number of
characteristics that can make it a dangerous drug.
Acetaminophen is a pervasive drug that is present in numerous
combination medications in addition to single-agent pain and
fever-reducing like Tylenol. It is estimated that some 52 million people
in the United States use an acetaminophen-containing medication every
week, close to a quarter of the population.4
As acetaminophen is considered safe for use during pregnancy and for
small children, it is easy to understand why label warnings about dose
limitations are taken lightly. However, habitually taking even a small
amount over the recommended maximum daily dosage of 4,000 mg may lead to
serious liver damage over time (one extra strength Tylenol pill
contains 500 mg).
It has been reported that intentional or accidental overdose of
acetaminophen is responsible for as much as 50 per cent of
overdose-induced acute liver failure in this country, and for 20 percent
of liver transplants.5
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has also issued warnings that
acetaminophen may rarely cause one of three different types of serious
skin infections that can lead to disfigurement or even death.6

Cellular Glutathione is Depleted by Acetaminophen

One of the factors that make acetaminophen so dangerous, especially
for children, is its impact on the body’s glutathione levels.
Glutathione is a small but powerful protein comprising three
different amino acids and has been dubbed “the body’s own master
antioxidant.” Glutathione plays an important role in more cellular
functions than can be covered in this article but includes such critical
activities as cell growth, division, and repair; enzyme activation and
function; transport of amino acids and other cellular substances;
metabolism of toxins; and protein synthesis. It is at the core of
healthy immune system response, both enhancing cellular activity and
protecting the immune system cells.7
Studies have shown a dose- and time-sensitive association between
acetaminophen use and depletion of intracellular glutathione levels.
Depleted levels of glutathione in turn decrease the cell’s ability to
process toxic free radicals.8

Combination of Acetaminophen and Vaccination is Dangerous

Giving Tylenol routinely to children to prevent fever following
vaccination may be particularly dangerous as it reduces the body’s
ability to process the injected toxins. It also has been recognized
since 2009 that acetaminophen reduces the immune system’s ability to
mount a strong response to the vaccine.910
Increasing evidence supports the “let it ride” theory about fever:
Except under specific circumstances, as when a fever is dangerously
high, the body has the ability to fight infection with fever, one of its
oldest and most enduring tools.11References: